American History II: Westward Expansion to Post-Vietnam

This course is a part of:
Associate's Degree Program
Bachelor's Degree Program

This course is a continuation of American History I, covering from Reconstruction through the end of the twentieth century. Students will learn about westward expansion, social movements that brought tremendous change to our laws and government, and the causes and consequences of the most deadly wars of the last century. It took the voices and actions of many different people to produce the singular structure of the United States, and because of this, the country’s political history is intimately tied with its social, economic, and cultural development. Therefore, students will learn that efforts of individuals – both famous and obscure – shaped the nation into what it is today. As we learn about our country’s rich past, we become better and more informed citizens, ready to impact its future.

Course Objectives

At the completion of this course, the student will have acquired knowledge and understanding of:

• Settlement of the West after the Civil War
• The destruction of Native American tribes
• The growth of big business and the industrial age
• Urbanization and the rise of the middle class
• Reform and popular movements
• U.S. involvement in the world wars
• The Great Depression
• Segregation and the Civil Rights movement
• Vietnam and its aftermath